Substance use has long been a topic of interest in public health, particularly regarding its impact on overall health and longevity. Recent research published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence has explored the associations between various forms of substance use and biological aging, specifically through the lens of epigenetic age acceleration.
The study analyzed data from 2,276 adults participating in the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study in Indiana. Participants provided saliva samples for DNA methylation profiling, which is a method used to assess biological aging through epigenetic markers. The researchers focused on several substance use indicators, including alcohol consumption, nicotine use, and opioid use, as well as the severity of substance use disorders (SUD).
Key Findings
The results indicated that:
- Binary measures of illicit opioid use and non-prescription opioid use were positively associated with accelerated biological aging, as measured by both AgeAccelGrim2 and DunedinPACE.
- Clinically significant alcohol use was positively associated with AgeAccelGrim2 but not with DunedinPACE.
- Cigarette smoking was positively associated with both measures of biological aging, while hookah use showed a negative association with AgeAccelGrim2.
- Vaping did not show a significant association with biological aging when analyzed alongside cigarette smoking.
These findings suggest that certain substances, particularly opioids and tobacco, may contribute to accelerated biological aging, highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind these associations.
What this study does not show
This study does not establish causation between substance use and biological aging, nor does it provide insights into the mechanisms by which these associations may occur.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: established
- Clinical validity: partial
- Clinical utility: not established
The evidence is based on primary research involving human participants.